It’s hard to believe that we’re almost one month into 2010. At the start of the year millions of Americans made resolutions to make improvements in various areas of their lives. However, research has shown that only 20-46% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions actually keep them. That’s not an inspiring statistic. At the core of any successful resolution is the formation of new habits. If you have a goal of getting more organized this year, here are seven habits to emulate:

Adhere to the golden rules. In Peter Walsh’s book It’s All Too Much, he states the golden rules for maintaining an organized space, “If you get it out--put it away. If you open it--close it. If you finish it--replace it. If it’s full--empty it. If you take it off--hang it up. If it’s dirty--wash it. If it’s garbage--trash it.”

Plan ahead. One of my favorite quotes on planning and preparation is by Abraham Lincoln, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” My guess is that you wouldn’t want to chop down a tree with a dull axe. So why go about your life without taking time to plan your day/week/year or getting organized? Research suggests that every minute spent planning saves three to four minutes in execution.

Use the right tools. There are a plethora of products and solutions that can help you stay organized. Take the time to determine what products best fit your needs and budget. Then, take the time to learn how to use them. This could include taking a course or picking up a book from the library to learn new tricks to better utilize a software program. Just remember, the best product in the world can’t help you stay organized if you don’t use it.

Abandon a sinking ship. If you have a system or organizing product that isn’t working, change it. Investigate different ideas of how to adapt it to work better for your situation or start looking for alternatives.
Use the word ‘no.’ It’s absolutely okay to say the word ‘no.’ Creating boundaries is crucial to living the life you want to live. Say no to over-commitment, clutter, and busyness for the sake of busyness.

Accept that less is more.

View organization as a continual process, not as a destination. It is important to remember that reaching a certain level of organization in our life does not mean that we’ll stay there without effort. Staying organized is a continual process. However, the goal in life isn’t to be organized, but rather it is a way of living that helps you achieve your goals.

For help with these tips or another organizing project, please contact us!